Sixers disrespected in recent Eastern Conference predictions

Sixers disrespected in recent Eastern Conference predictions

It’s no secret that the Philadelphia 76ers are entering the 2018-19 season with high expectations.

Coming off a 52-win season, the team adds a healthy Markelle Fultz to what was one of the best starting fives in the league a season ago. Factor in the expected improvement of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons and it’s easy to understand the excitement.

But based on one of the most recent NBA previews to hit the internet, courtesy of The Athletic, perhaps it would be wise to temper those expectations.

The Athletic surveyed its 32 NBA writers on a variety of topics, from MVP and Rookie of the Year winners to top storylines and predicted conference champions. The results for Eastern Conference champion, while predictable, held a bit of a surprise.

Only one of the 32 writers believes the Sixers will come out of the East.

The Toronto Raptors managed five votes, while the Boston Celtics took home the other 26.

It’s not surprising the Celtics were the consensus pick. They are loaded with talent and have incredible depth. And they eliminated the Sixers four games to one in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals. It’s hard to argue that they aren’t the favorites in the East.

Confusing lack of love

What is surprising is that so few writers were willing to go out on a limb and pick against the Celtics, and even more so that only one went with the Sixers.

While the Celtics look like the clear favorite on paper, they aren’t without questions. We have yet to see how the Kyrie Irving-Gordon Hayward pairing will play out over a full season. Furthermore, we don’t know how the young core that thrived in Hayward’s absence will adjust to changing roles upon his return. There are a lot of playmakers that made big statements on the NBA’s biggest stage crowding the Boston roster and there is only one basketball to go around.

It’s possible that players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Terry Rozier transition seamlessly into reduced roles. It’s even more possible that head coach Brad Stevens devises ways to keep everyone happy. But it’s just as possible that those players, eager to build off last year’s breakout, become discontent.

Meanwhile, the Sixers have not one but two generational talents, each prepared to take the next step in their progressions. They add to that one of the biggest wild cards in the NBA in Fultz while retaining the underrated contributions of Dario Saric, forming arguably the best young core in the game.

Taking all of this into consideration, it’s not a stretch to think the Sixers could be the ones emerging from the East. It’s hard to imagine that only one of 32 analysts were willing to embrace that scenario. But hey, Philly loves the underdog role.